Meet the 2024-25 Springfield Thunderbirds

The Springfield Thunderbirds are back.

Get to know the team ahead of their 2024-25 season opener on Oct. 12 with the player bios below:

#1 Vadim Zherenko – Goaltender

6-4, 196, 23 years old – Moscow, Russia

Originally selected by the Blues in the 7th round (208th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, Zherenko debuted with the Thunderbirds on Oct. 21, 2022 at Belleville, where he posted 30 saves for his first AHL win.

Entering the 2024-25 season, Zherenko has appeared in 54 AHL games, posting a 22-23-4 record, a 3.33 goals-against average, and .908 save percentage. He accrued his first AHL shutout on Nov. 25, 2023 with 33 saves in a 7-0 win over Utica.

#5 Tyler Tucker – Defenseman

6-1, 205, 24 years old – Thunder Bay, ON

Originally selected by the Blues in the seventh round (200th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Tucker was a key piece of the T-Birds’ 2022 Eastern Conference title team, picking up 18 points and 114 penalty minutes in 72 games before skating in each of the team’s 18 playoff contests.

He made his NHL debut with St. Louis on November 16, 2022 against Chicago and, entering the 2024-25 season, has skated in 52 NHL games with the Blues. He recorded his first NHL goal on February 23, 2023 against Vancouver.

#6 Corey Schueneman – Defenseman

6-0, 196, 29 years old – Brighton, MI

Originally signed to an AHL contract by the Stockton Heat in 2019, Schueneman turned pro after skating in 144 NCAA games with Western Michigan, where he was teammates with fellow Thunderbird Hugh McGing.

Though he was not drafted, Schueneman made his NHL debut less than three years after turning pro, skating for the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 28, 2021 at Tampa, recording his first NHL point on an assist. He tallied his first NHL goal on March 17, 2022 vs. Dallas.

Entering the 2024-25 season, Schueneman had skated in 244 AHL games, recording 90 points (21g, 69a) and 97 PIMs, as well as a +20 rating. He was a member of the Laval Rocket squad that fell in seven games to Springfield in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals.

#7 Leo Loof – Defenseman

6-1, 179, 22 years old – Karlstad, Sweden

Originally selected by the Blues in the third round (88th overall) in 2020, Loof skated in 113 professional games in Europe before joining the Thunderbirds in 2023.

A native of Sweden, Loof captured a bronze medal at the 2021 World Junior Championships. In his final pro season in Europe with Ilves of the Finnish League (Liiga), Loof tallied 15 points (4g, 12a) in 55 games with a +22 rating.

#8 Samuel Johannesson – Defenseman

5-11, 176, 23 years old – Halmstad, Sweden

Originally selected in the 6th round by Columbus in 2020, Johannesson has skated in 239 pro games in the Swedish league (SHL), posting 81 points in that time (22g, 59a) and just 28 PIMs. With Rogle BK, Johanneson captured a Champions Hockey League title in 2022.This is his first season in North America.

#9 Michael Buchinger – Defenseman

6-0, 185, 20 years old – Markham, ON

Originally drafted in the third round by St. Louis in 2022, Buchinger turns pro in 2024-25 following three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Guelph Storm, where he was coached by Thunderbirds assistant coach Chad Wiseman. He is entering his first professional season.

In his three OHL seasons, Buchinger averaged nearly a point per game with 158 points (30g, 128a) in 176 games with the Storm. He was a member of the OHL’s All-Rookie First Team in 2021-22 and the OHL’s All-Star Third Team in 2023-24, when he posted 10 goals and 37 assists in 52 games.

#11 Hugh McGing – Forward

5-10, 175, 26 years old – Chicago, IL

A fifth round pick by the Blues in 2018, McGing is entering his fifth professional season in the Blues organization and fourth as a Thunderbird. In 2023-24, the Chicago native tied his career high with 39 points in just 51 games, including a career-best 31 assists.

Entering the 2024-25 season, McGing posted 112 points in 189 career games with Springfield. He enters the year fifth in T-Birds club history in points, third in assists (73), and fourth in games played. He produced seven points (4g, 3a) in 18 playoff games during the T-Birds’ run to the 2022 Calder Cup Finals. In Game 1 of the Finals, McGing scored the Thunderbirds’ first-ever Calder Cup Finals goal.

Prior to turning pro, McGing played collegiately for Western Michigan, where he was teammates with fellow Thunderbird Corey Schueneman. McGing was named a NCAA (West) First Team All-American in his senior season (2019-20), when he tallied 35 points (13g, 22a) in 35 games for the Broncos.

#14 Zach Dean – Forward

5-11, 185, 21 years old – Grande Prairie, AB

Originally the 30th overall pick by Vegas in the 2021 NHL Draft, Dean skated in 49 games in 2023-24 for the Thunderbirds, posting 14 points (9g, 5a). Dean also made his NHL debut with the Blues on March 21, 2024 at Ottawa.

Dean was a member of Team Canada’s gold-medal-winning World Junior Championship squad in 2022, where he posted three points and 33 penalty minutes in the seven-game tournament. In his final junior hockey season with the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques, Dean posted 70 points (33g, 37a) and a +39 rating in just 50 games before adding another 26 points (10g, 16a) in 13 QMJHL playoff contests.

#15 Dalibor Dvorsky – Forward

6-1, 203, 19 years old – Zvolen, Slovakia

The 10th overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft by the Blues, Dvorsky embarks on his first professional season in North America following a prolific 2023-24 campaign in the OHL with the Sudbury Wolves.

In 52 games in Sudbury, Dvorsky produced 88 points (45g, 43a) while taking just 17 minutes in penalties, then added 10 points (3g, 7a) in nine playoff games for the Wolves. For his efforts, the then-18-year-old earned OHL First All-Star Team status. His 45 goals were the fourth-highest total in the OHL last season, and Dvorsky was one of just nine players to eclipse 40 goals.

He also represented his native Slovakia in the World Junior Championships and had six points (3g, 3a) in five games.

#17 Nikita Alexandrov – Forward

6-0, 185, 24 years old – Burgwedel, Germany

Originally selected in the 2nd round (62nd overall) by the Blues in the 2019 NHL Draft, Alexandrov made his NHL debut for St. Louis on Nov. 10, 2022 vs. SJ and scored his first NHL goal on Jan. 7, 2023 @ MTL.

Alexandrov posted a career-high 38 points in just 41 games with Springfield in 2022-23, including 19 goals.

His father, Igor, skated in 12 seasons as a forward in German league (DEL), as well as 69 AHL games with the Springfield Indians in 1993-94, posting 26 points (10g, 16a)

#18 Mathias Laferriere – Forward

6-1, 185, 24 years old – Montreal, QC

A sixth-round pick by the Blues in 2018, Laferriere is entering his fourth season in Springfield, coming off a 25-point season in 2023-24.

Before turning pro, Laferriere had a prolific five-year run in the QMJHL, where he scored 214 points (83g, 132a) in 238 games played with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. He ended the 2023-24 season on a high note, posting five points in his final five games of the regular season with Springfield.

#19 MacKenzie MacEachern – Forward

6-2, 193, 30 years old – Bloomfield Hills, MI

Originally picked in the third round of the 2012 NHL Draft by St. Louis, MacEachern is now in his second tour of duty in the Blues organization. The 30-year-old is looking to build off an injury-shortened 2023-24 campaign that saw the rugged winger produce 19 points (6g, 13a) in 34 games.

In 81 career regular-season games with Springfield, MacEachern has posted 18 goals and 26 assists. The former Michigan State Spartan has skated in 375 professional games between the AHL and NHL entering the 2024-25 season. MacEachern is the lone Thunderbirds skater on the Opening Night roster to have a Stanley Cup championship on his resume, having hoisted the Cup with the Blues in 2019.

#22 Dylan Peterson – Forward

6-4, 195, 22 years old – Roseville, CA

Originally selected by the Blues in the third round (86th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, Peterson debuted with the Thunderbirds on April 14, 2024, recording an assist in his first game against Providence.

Prior to turning pro, Peterson skated for Boston University, where he put up 60 points (23g, 34a) in four seasons. He appeared in a pair of Frozen Fours in 2023 and 2024, and he was named the MVP of the Beanpot Tournament in 2022 after scoring the game-winning goal in the Beanpot title game over Northeastern.

#24 Tanner Dickinson – Forward

6-0, 183, 22 years old – Perrysburg, OH

A fourth-round pick of the Blues in 2020, Dickinson had a resilient season in 2023-24 after missing all of 2022-23 recovering from a broken femur suffered in his final OHL season with the Soo Greyhounds the year before. Prior to the injury, Dickinson had recorded 47 points (18g, 29a) in just 35 OHL games during the 2021-22 season.

In 45 games with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, Dickinson posted 26 points (8g, 18a). When called upon in Springfield, Dickinson delivered three goals during his 17-game stint with the T-Birds.

#31 Colten Ellis – Goaltender

6-1, 188, 24 years old – Antigonish, NS

Originally selected by the Blues in the third round (93rd overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Ellis is coming off his best season as a pro in 2023-24.

In 21 games with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, Ellis posted a .923 save percentage, 2.45 goals-against average, and a 12-5-1 record. After his recall to the T-Birds, he went 7-9-0 with a .924 save percentage and 2.89 goals-against average in 16 games.

Entering the 2024-25 season, Ellis has posted a professional record of 47-39-14 between the AHL and ECHL.

#33 Anton Malmstrom – Defenseman

6-4, 203, 24 years old – Osterhaninge, Sweden

Malmstrom enters his second full season of pro hockey with the T-Birds following a three-year NCAA career at Bowling Green State University, where he skated in 89 games over three seasons.

The Swedish-born blueliner scored his first professional goal on April 19 @ Providence.

#34 Sam Bitten – Forward

6-2, 220, 24 years old – Ottawa, ON

The fierce Bitten enters his second season with the Thunderbirds after signing a two-year AHL contract last season that will keep him in the organization through the 2025-26 season.

Last season, Bitten had 75 penalty minutes in 29 games and also chipped in his first AHL goal on February 25, 2024 at Bridgeport.

#37 Reece Newkirk – Forward

5-11, 180, 23 years old – Moose Jaw, SK

Originally a fifth-round pick of the Islanders in 2019, Newkirk is entering his fourth professional season after spending the last three in the Islanders’ system.

He is two years removed from a 36-point season in just 50 games with the Worcester Railers in the ECHL. Last season, Newkirk skated in 16 games with Bridgeport and 16 with the Railers.

#38 Tarun Fizer – Forward

5-11, 173, 23 years old – Chestermere, AB

Fizer enters his first season in the Thunderbirds’ organization after splitting last season between the Belleville Senators and the ECHL’s Allen Americans. Fizer is two seasons removed from a 50-point campaign with the Utah Grizzlies in 2022-23, when he registered 27 goals.

#41 Aleksanteri Kaskimaki – Forward

6-0, 192, 20 years old – Espoo, Finland

The Blues’ third-round pick (73rd overall) in 2022, Kaskimaki arrives for his first pro season in North America after skating with HIFK in the Finnish League (Liiga) last season. Kaskimaki totaled 10 goals and 17 points in 48 games, and he also represented his native Finland in the World Junior Championships, where he tallied four points in seven tournament games. Finland captured a bronze in the tournament.

#44 Scott Harrington – Defenseman

6-0, 216, 31 years old – Kingston, ON

Harrington, the oldest member of the 2024-25 Thunderbirds, was originally a second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2011 NHL Draft.

A decorated junior player, Harrington was twice named to the OHL First All-Star Team as a member of the London Knights, where he finished his tenure with 81 points and a +58 rating in 216 games. He captured two OHL championships with London during his tenure with the club.

He enters the 2024-25 season two games shy of 200 in his AHL career, in addition to skating in 255 NHL games with five teams (PIT, TOR, CBJ, SJ, ANA) over his 11-year pro career.

#45 Marc-Andre Gaudet – Defenseman

6-3, 181, 20 years old – St-Ignace, NB

The Blues’ fifth-round selection in 2022, Gaudet had a strong first professional season in 2023-24 with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, potting 26 points (6g, 20a) and a +8 rating in 55 games. He made his AHL debut with the T-Birds on January 7, 2024 at Providence.

Prior to turning pro, Gaudet had 107 points in four seasons in the QMJHL, posting 29 goals and 78 assists to go along with a +64 rating.

#55 Hunter Skinner – Defenseman

6-3, 190, 23 years old – Pinckney, MI

A fourth-round pick of the New York Rangers in 2019, Skinner joined the Blues organization in the trade that sent Vladimir Tarasenko to New York in 2023.

In his first full season with Springfield in 2023-24, Skinner led the team with 94 penalty minutes while adding 10 points in 50 games.

#63 Matthew Peca – Forward (Captain)

5-10, 181, 31 years old – Petawawa, ON

Originally a seventh round pick by the Lightning in 2011, Peca is entering his fourth season in the Blues organization and second as Thunderbirds captain.

In 154 games in Springfield, Peca has put up 136 points (44g, 92a). He begins the 2024-25 season third all-time in T-Birds history in scoring and first all-time in assists. Entering the year, Peca is 21 points shy of Anthony Greco’s team scoring record of 157 points.

Before suffering a season-ending injury in February, Peca had another stellar season in 2023-24 with 41 points in 48 games. He has skated in 496 pro games entering the new season.

Prior to his pro career, Peca was a four-year star at Quinnipiac University, where he led the Bobcats to the national championship game in 2013.

#77 Drew Callin – Forward

6-2, 200, 29 years old – Middleton, WI

Entering his fourth season with the Thunderbirds, Callin carved out a role in Springfield during the 2021-22 season, skating in 44 games after beginning the campaign with 13 points in 16 games with the Worcester Railers.

Callin also skated collegiately in New England, tallying 90 points in four seasons at Bentley University.

#81 Marcus Sylvegard – Forward

6-0, 190, 25 years old – Gessie, Sweden

Embarking on his first season in North America, Sylvegard arrives in Springfield having already skated in 320 games in his native Sweden for the SHL’s Malmo Redhawks and Vaxjo HC.

In his last two seasons, he put up 41 points, including a career-high 23 goals last season with Vaxjo. In 2021, he helped lead Vaxjo to an SHL league championship.